Lionel Messi still has a chance of bowing out of what will be his final World Cup with the trophy in his hands after Argentina knocked out the Netherlands in a pulsating quarter-final tie.

La Albiceleste had the game wrapped up with under 20 minutes of the initial 90 left to play when Messi, who had produced one of the best passes you’re ever likely to see to assist the opening goal for Nahuel Molina, converted from the penalty spot.

It needn’t have been as difficult as it turned out to be after Argentina let it slip in the closing stages of the game, with Wout Weghorst forcing extra-time through route one Dutch tactics. That period of the contest bypassed Messi completely as the ball was constantly being launched into the air.